Improved hat and cotton-press



ENOCHTHOMAS, OF CRAIGSVIL'LE, VIRGINIA.

-Let-tc'rs Patent No. 90,970, datedlune 8, 1869.

IMPROVED HAY AND COTTN-PRESS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making partl of the sama.

To all whom 'ma/y concern:

Be it known thatl, ENocH THOMAS, of Craigsville,

l in the county of Augusta, and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improved Portable Double- Acting Toggle-Lever Press for Hay, Cotton, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyngdrawings, and to the letters of. reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention, mainly, consists, in the first place, in the combination of a vertical-sliding ratchet-bar at each corner ofthe press-box or case which contains the material to.be pressed, hwith-horizontal lifting-bals, upon which the follower rests, the lower ends of the ratchet-bars beingjointed to the ends ofthe lifting-bars, so that a rocking motion may be given to the follower, as its ends are lifted alternately in the pressing-operation, caused by the alternate action of two sets of levers, one set being at each end, or at parallel sides of the press.

In the second place, it consists, in the combination of double-acting toggle-levers with the said vertical ratchet-bars, the said levers being operated by means of eccentrics on a driving-shaft, and connecting-rods, or other suitable mechanism.

In the third place, it consists in the combination and'arrangement of removable shafts with the press, in such a manner, that when the latter is turned down to a horizontal positionyand rests on ily-wheels, ou the ends of the driving-shaft, which then serve as tractionwheels, a horse may be placed in the shafts, and the press removed from place to place, as may be desired.

And when the press has to be put into operation, the

shafts may be det-ached therefrom.

' In the accompanying drawings, which make apart of this specificationv Figure l is a side elevation of the improved press; Figure 2 is an end view ofthe same. v Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the vertical ratchet-bars D.

Figure 4 is a like view of oneof the horizontal lifting-bars C. V

Figures 5 and 6 are views at right angles with each 'other of one of the vertical slides N.

Figures 7 and 8 are like views of one of the shafts S. Figures 9 and 10 are views at right angles with each other of a swinging pawl, b. i

4Like letters in all the iigures indicate the same parts.

A is a box, or case, into which the material to be pressed is put. The top, which may be connected in the usual manner, is not represented.

. B is a vertically-sliding bottom, or follower, which rests on horizontal bars, C C, which are jointed to the lower ends of the vertical ratchet sliding bars D at each corner of the case A.

The ratchet-bars, one of which is shown indetail in hg. 3, have tongues, a a, which slide in corresponding vertical grooves in the case A, represented in figs. l and 2. a

One of the lifting-bars O is shown in detail in g.4.

Instead of the ratchet-bars being jointed yto the lifting-bars, they may have a like connection with the follower B. When so connected, the bars O are dispensed with. 4

The followerB receives its upward movement, wherebythe material to be pressed is condensed between it and the top plate, by means of the toggle-levels E and El', at each corner of the pressing-box. The pawls b, on the upper ends of the levers E', in each straightening motion of the pairs of levers, by connecting with the ratchet-bars D, lift' the same, so as to elevate the follower B, which rests upon the horizontal bars C, which have a joiueconuection with said bars D, as before described.

At one end of the press there is a horizontal rod, F, which has a joint-connection with the two pairs of levers E and E at that end of the press. The ends of the rod also have a connection with one end of the bars G G, at the sides of the press.

At the other end of the press there is a like rod, F', connected with the two' pairs of levers EE at that end, and with the other ends of the bars G G, in the same manner. l

Alternate action ofthe levers is produced by means of the eccentrics H H, on. the driving-shaft I, and connectng-rods J J the latter being connected tothe coupling-bars Gr G, which have a reciprocating motion given them by the revolutions of the driving-shaft through said intermediates. By the alternateaction o f the two sets of' levers upon the follower, its ledge, at one 4end of the press, is raised, while the opposite vedge is at rest, and eine versa, whereby an increased leverage is obtained.

K is a crank, at one end of the press, which isconnected to the rods J J by means of the rodsL L, for elevating the former rods when it is desired to arrest the motion of the follower.

The pawls b may be instantly thrown out of theirV connection with the vertical ratchet-bars D by means of the cranks M, at each end of the press, as represented in figs. 1 and 2, the cranks being in connection with the vertical slides N, one at each corner of the case A, and the said slides having inclines, c, at their upper ends, which, during the elevation of the slides, by pressing against the friction-wheels O, on the edgel of the Alevers E,'thro\v their upper end outward.

At one end of the crank M there is a lever, P, for operating the same.

There is a catch, Q, at each corner' of the case A, which connects with the ratchet-bar D, which is sprung inward by means of the upper end ofthe spring R, the

lower end of which acts upon the upper end of the lever E', to throw the pawl b into connection with the said bar.

Figs. 7 and 8 represent adraught-shaft, which has holes, ff, for the admission of screw-bolts. And there are like holes, f', in the horizontal timbers S S at the bottom `and near the top of the case A, as seen in g. 2.

When I wish to remove the press, I bolt a pair of these shafts to the said timbers S S", and turn the case A into a horizontal position, so asto cause it to restwith its weight on the fly-Wheels T T, on the ends of the driving-shaft AI, and bitching a horse in the shafts, the press may be readily removed from place to place, when desired. v

. I do not claim the combination of double-acting toggle-levers with pawls at their upper ends forelevating the follower of the press, as such an arrangement exists in my patent dated the 14th day of July, 1868; but

I claim the ratchet-bars D, in combination with the doubleeacting toggle-levers` E E', when operated by the coupling-bars Gr, connecting-rods J, eccentrios H, and driving-shaft I, all constructed and arranged in the manner herein set-forth.

In testimony that the above is my invention, I have hereunto set my hand and axed my seal, this 4th day of March, 1869.

ENOOH THOMAS. [n s.]

Witnesses J. P. DELANEY, STEPHAN UsTIoK. 

